Dazzling Gem seeks breakthrough win in Evangeline Downs Mile

The talented Dazzling Gem has come close to winning a stakes race five times in his career. He could break through Saturday night, when he starts as the probable favorite in the $100,000 Evangeline Downs Mile.

“We’re hoping he can break the ice,” trainer Brad Cox said.

The Evangeline Mile is the richest open-company stakes of the meet and will share a card with the $50,000 Lafayette for 3-year-olds bred in Louisiana. The Evangeline Mile for 3-year-olds and up drew a field of eight that includes stakes winners Magic Vow, Grande Basin, Plot Twist, and Sir Genghis – the latter scratched from a Wednesday allowance at Evangeline.

Dazzling Gem has placed in five stakes for owner Steve Landers, at Fair Grounds, Pimlico, and Remington Park. His efforts include third-place finishes in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby in 2016 and Grade 3 Mineshaft in 2017, both at Fair Grounds.

“He’s given good accounts of himself in stakes, never been able to get there first,” Cox said. “He’s been behind some really nice horses in his career, especially as a 3-year-old – Gun Runner, Creator – some really good horses that went on to win classic races.”

Dazzling Gem finished behind another good horse in his most recent start, when third to multiple graded stakes winner McCraken in an optional $100,000 claiming race May 5 at Churchill Downs. Dazzling Gem rallied from last in the one-turn mile, and the Beyer Speed Figure of 90 that he earned is the best last-race number in the Evangeline Mile.

“He’s doing extremely well,” Cox said. “He ran a really good race going a mile last time at Churchill. I think the two-turn mile this time is right up his alley, what he wants to do.”

Colby Hernandez has the mount from post 5.

“I think he’ll be somewhat close, but probably not on the lead,” Cox said.

Dazzling Gem is a son of Misremembered, while his fourth dam, Imagining, produced Hall of Fame racehorse Serena’s Song.

Magic Vow is moving back to dirt – the surface of both of his stakes wins – for the Evangeline Mile off an allowance win on turf June 7 at Evangeline. For the start, Magic Vow added blinkers. Kerwin Clark was aboard and has the mount again for Brittlyn Stable and trainer Allen Landry.

Sir Genghis will be stretching back out around two turns off a runner-up finish to Monte Man in the $75,000 Louisiana Legends Sprint on May 26 at Evangeline. Sir Genghis is a two-turn stakes winner over the local main track and boasts a 5 for 10 record overall on dirt at Evangeline. Monte Man won his fifth straight race in the Sprint.

The Lafayette, at seven furlongs, is restricted to nonwinners of a stakes race. The field of six includes O’L Red, who could go favored on the strength of the 85 Beyer he earned last out when a romping allowance winner May 12 at Louisiana Downs. Autumn Warrior invades from the same track, off a 14 1/2-length debut win in a maiden special weight sprint May 5 for which he earned a Beyer of 72.